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Think Least of Death

Spinoza on How to Live and How to Die
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( 452 ratings, 76 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Think Least of Death by Steven Nadler delves into the philosophical teachings of Spinoza, exploring how his ideas can help us lead better lives and face mortality with serenity. Through a thoughtful examination of Spinoza's work, Nadler presents the philosopher’s perspective on human nature, happiness, and the importance of rational thought in overcoming fears of death. This intriguing book offers a modern take on timeless philosophical questions about existence.
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Format: Hardback
$9800

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you are fascinated by the Enlightenment era and intrigued by the philosophical ideas of Spinoza. Exploring themes of life, death, and our understanding of existence, it offers a profound meditation on living life with courage and wisdom, encouraging a philosophical outlook on everyday challenges.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

From Pulitzer Prize-finalist Steven Nadler, an engaging guide to what Spinoza can teach us about life's big questions.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

From Pulitzer Prize-finalist Steven Nadler, an engaging guide to what Spinoza can teach us about life's big questions.

In 1656, after being excommunicated from Amsterdam's Portuguese-Jewish community for 'abominable heresies' and 'monstrous deeds,' the young Baruch Spinoza abandoned his family's import business to dedicate his life to philosophy. He quickly became notorious across Europe for his views on God, the Bible, and miracles, as well as for his uncompromising defence of free thought. Yet the radicalism of Spinoza's views has long obscured that his primary reason for turning to philosophy was to answer one of humanity's most urgent questions: How can we lead a good life and enjoy happiness in a world without a providential God?

In Think Least of Death, Pulitzer Prize-finalist Steven Nadler connects Spinoza's ideas with his life and times to offer a compelling account of how the philosopher can provide a guide to living one's best life.

In the Ethics, Spinoza presents his vision of the ideal human being, the 'free person' who, motivated by reason, lives a life of joy devoted to what is most important—improving oneself and others. Untroubled by passions such as hate, greed, and envy, free people treat others with benevolence, justice, and charity. Focusing on the rewards of goodness, they enjoy the pleasures of this world, but in moderation. "The free person thinks least of all of death," Spinoza writes, "and his wisdom is a meditation not on death but on life."

"A helpful explication of [Spinoza's] ideas about ethics, the afterlife, and human nature." - Kirkus Reviews

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Steven Nadler's Think Least of Death provides an insightful exploration of Spinoza's philosophy, particularly focusing on the idea of the 'free person' as a rational being seeking power and virtue. Praised for its accessibility, the book serves as both an engaging introduction to Spinoza's complex ideas and a helpful guide to personal improvement. Reviews highlight its relevance and clarity, making it a recommended read for those interested in ethics and human nature.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780691183848

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 22 September 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Princeton University Press

Illustration: 1 b/w illus.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 248

About the Author

Steven Nadler is Vilas Research Professor and the William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy at the University of WisconsinMadison. His many books include Rembrandt's Jews, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Spinoza: A Life, and (with Lawrence Shapiro) When Bad Thinking Happens to Good People: How Philosophy Can Save Us from Ourselves (Princeton).

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